The history of Mumbai narrates the advent of Europeans, the Parsis, land possession and finally industrial and economic development. The Mumbai of today was originally an archipelago of seven islands. Artefacts unearthed near Kandivali, in northern Mumbai indicate that these islands had been inhabited since the Stone Age. Although heavy human habitation existed throughout the history of Mumbai, the people living during the Stone Age, the Kolis, a fishing community, were the earliest known settlers of the islands. The Kolis used to call the islands "Mumba" after Mumbadevi, the Hindu deity to whom a temple is dedicated at Babulnath near Chowpatty`s sandy beaches. The British corrupted the Portuguese name "Bom Baia" to "Bombay". The remnants of the Koli settlements can still be seen at Backbay reclamation, Mahim, Bandra, Khar, Bassien and Madh Island.

The history of Mumbai tells the tale that the Maurya Empire gained control of the islands during the third century BC and changed it into a center for Hindu and Buddhist culture and religion. Later, between the 2nd century BC and 9th century, the islands experienced the control of Satavahanas, Abhiras, Vakatakas, Kalachuris, Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas, before being ruled by the Silhara dynasty from 810 to 1260. The Hindu rulers of the Silhara Dynasty later administered the islands till 1343, when the kingdom of Gujarat annexed them. Some of the most ancient edifices of the archipelago - the Elephanta Caves and the Walkeshwar temple complex date from this time.

The Portuguese had seized the islands from Bahadur Shah of Gujarat in 1534. They were reassigned to Charles II of England in 1661, as part of dowry for Catherine de Braganza.

The Mughals invaded the islands during the end of the 17th century. During the mid-18th century, the city emerged as an important trading town, with maritime trade contacts with Mecca and Basra. Economic and educational development characterised the city during the 19th century with the first Indian railway line between Bombay and neighbouring Thane in 1853. The later half of the 19th century, the history of Mumbai saw feverish construction of buildings in the city, many of which such as, the Victoria Terminus, the General Post Office, Municipal Corporation, the Prince of Wales Museum, Rajabai Tower and Bombay University, Elphinstone College and the Cawasji Jehangir Hall, the Crawford Market, the Old Secretariat (Old Customs House) and the Public Works Department (PWD) Building, still stand today as major landmarks. The Gateway of India was built to commemorate the visit of king George V and Queen Mary for the Darbar at Delhi in 1911.